Descriptions

The use of antioxidants is now often used as a pharmacological adjunct to limit infertility. Indeed, the
lay public rightly perceives oxidative stress and, thus, antioxidant treatment as important modulators
of infertility. While the direct effects of antioxidant treatment on the quality of semen and oocytes are
still under investigation, a significant body of evidence points to loss of vascular tone as a root-cause of
erectile dysfunction and, possibly, alterations to female reproduction.
In this article, we will critically review the often neglected link between vascular dysfunction and
infertility. A particular emphasis will be on the potential use of antioxidants to increase fertility and
promote conception.